20 fantastic festivals in London this September

20 fantastic festivals in London this September

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Browse our guide to the best festivals in London this September, including London Mela (pictured)

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Thames Festival

Various venues, Sep 6-15

Upgraded from a weekend event to a full ten days, this watery fiesta returns with river cruises, races, walks and talks. Most events are free and family-friendly, and highlights include an opera with a floating orchestra on historic vessels, the Great River Race featuring the likes of Chinese dragon boats and Viking longboats, and a memorial barge-driving race in fancy dress. Feeling romantic? Go for a meal at Butler’s Wharf Blackout where you’ll dine in the dark to enjoy spectacular night-time river views.

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London Mela

Gunnersbury Park, Sun Sep 1

This free celebration of all things South Asian attracts tens of thousands of visitors with its music, arts, and stalls selling food and crafts. This year there will be a funfair, a circus, comedy acts, a children's play area, sports, and an Oxfam fashion show to promote ethical clothing. Urban, classical and experimental music will be represented with live shows from AS Kang, Bally Sagoo, Lippi and various DJs. And there will be fireworks!

4/21

Raindance Film Festival

Vue Piccadilly, Sep 25-Oct 6

Love independent and international cinema? The 21st Raindance Film Festival champions film-makers from around the world with over 100 independent feature films, documentaries, and 150 short films. Visitors can also attend seminars, workshops and parties, where you can discuss current issues in cinema and meet fellow film buffs. The programme will be announced on September 3, so stand by for announcements.

5/21

Anyone who’s anyone comes to Camden to play one of 30 shows for Apple. Apply for free tickets online and if you’re extra lucky you’ll get to see one of the biggest names, Lady Gaga (on the opening night), Kings of Leon, Justin Timberlake or Elton John, away from their natural arena habitats.

6/21

Ever wanted to snoop around 10 Downing Street? Open House offers exclusive – and free – access to buildings which are usually closed to the public, including Battersea Power Station, the Gherkin, Lloyd's of London, City Hall and the Royal Courts of Justice. The unconnected Open Doors Weekend a few days later allows budding construction workers/architects/engineers to peek behind the scenes of London’s major construction sites.

7/21

Kings Place Festival

Kings Place, Sep 13-15

Corseted Morris dancers, a cappella David Guetta and JLS mash-ups, traditional flamenco and a Baroque fairy tale opera are just some of the musical gems on offer at this eclectic festival. The weekend-long festival will feature 100+ events such as debates, comedy (including Robert Newman, pictured) and interactive activities, such as ukulele workshops, cake decoration, canal trips and a silent disco, as well as chocolate-, beer- and wine-tasting.

8/21

Vegetarians look away now. After nine successful years in New York, Meatopia is coming to London with a cornucopia of barbecued and grilled meats, plus live music, cabaret and art installations. Chefs will include St John’s Fergus Henderson, Gizzi Erskine, and the ‘Best Barbecuer in Texas’ Aaron Franklin, whose brisket is smoked for over 15 hours.

9/21

London Design Festival

Various venues, Sep 14-22

Now in its tenth year, LDF returns to applaud the best examples of contemporary architecture, furniture, clothes and art design. The festival is based at the V&A but has over 300 events around the capital, including an Escher-inspired Endless Stair sculpture outside Tate Modern.

10/21

One year on from the Paralympic Games, this free event showcases disability sports and arts including street theatre, dance, music and film, and a wealth of children’s activities. As well as seeing Paralympic medallists in action, visitors can watch performances such as theatre piece The Limbless Knight (pictured) and the interactive light sculpture Miracoco Luminarium.

11/21

Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Festival

The Guildhall Yard and St Mary Le Bow Church, Cheapside, Sun Sep 29

You're invited to the London pearlies' traditional annual autumn get together. Expect kings and queens dressed in their distinctive pearl-adorned suits, as well as donkeys, carts and marching bands. All harvest offerings will be donated to the Whitechapel Mission homelessness charity.

12/21

Deloitte Ignite: Verdi/Wagner

Royal Opera House, Sep 7-29

Opera devotee Stephen Fry curates this celebration of the joint bicentenary of Italian Romantic composer Giuseppe Verdi and Teutonic forefather of atonality Richard Wagner. Spread over four weekends, the festival will feature radio broadcasts, talks, workshops and pop-up performances inspired by the two composers’ works.

13/21

Hampstead & Highgate Literary Festival

London Jewish Cultural Centre, Sep 15-17

Among the 60 varied events to choose from are a Doctor Who special and sessions with Ruby Wax (pictured), Digested Read’s John Crace, Crimewatch’s Nick Ross and MasterChef winner Shelina Permalloo. On the Sunday, there's a host of ‘Kid for a Quid’ events, offering workshops for toddlers and teens, plus free poetry in Golders Hill Park.

14/21

Peckham and Nunhead Free Film Festival

Various venues, Sep 5-15

Classic films for free, no booking required. Just show up and you can see films including Pasolini's Gospel According to St Matthew, documentary Searching for Sugar Man, and timeless Chaplin and Keaton flicks. There are also events such as a manga animation workshop, a talk on demystifying film production, a 3D art performance and a young filmmakers' competition.

15/21

London Stories: A 1-on-1-on-1 Festival

Battersea Arts Centre, Sep 16-28

Ever wanted to strike up a conversation with the interesting-looking person sitting next to you on the bus? This intimate festival allows you to listen to strangers’ real-life stories without having to eavesdrop. Three people sit in a candlelit room, one tells stories to the other two. Illuminating.

16/21

Bermondsey Street Festival

Bermondsey Street, Sat Sep 21

Bermondsey’s village fete attracted 15,000 people last year with its mix of maypole dancing, fashion shows, tug of war, and pugs dressed as dinosaurs. The popular dog show, music stages and outdoor cinema will be returning this year.

17/21

Colourscape Music Festival

Clapham Common, Sep 14-22

Walk inside a musical rainbow: a one-acre, brightly lit labyrinth where visitors wear coloured capes and dance to live musicians in 100 interlinked chambers. The week-long festival also includes music workshops and a specially commissioned piece inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Psychedelic.

18/21

Night Contact Festival

Gillett Square, Fri Sep 27

Dalston knows how to mix interesting art and boozy debauchery, and this evening of photography promises to offer both. The festival is based in Gillett Square, where three large screens will display photographs, experimental films and multimedia artwork. There will also be a cocktail bar, street food stalls, and cheap drinks.

19/21

This free outdoor weekender celebrates Stratford with theatre, film screenings, and a giant pop-up playground. Food stalls, art workshops, games and children’s activities, will ensure it's a fun day out for all the family.

20/21

Scalarama

Various venues, Aug 31-Sep 29

Championing independent cinema, Scalarama encourages film-lovers to get out and watch classic, cult and underground films in unusual locations: the 33 venues in London include Brompton Cemetery, Hyde Park Lido and the Goethe Institut. Otherwise, stay in: September 29 is Home Cinema Day, when you’re encouraged to show films to neighbours, friends or colleagues in your own home.

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London Bridge Live Arts

Various venues, Sep 5-8

London Bridge Live Arts is a new festival encouraging South London to dance, perform, and generally move about. Performances include samba, BMX stunts, street dancing, ceilidhs, maypole dancing and clogging (Google it). You can also get involved with workshops and classes.